The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has carried out its latest public punishment, executing two men by rifle shot before a gathered crowd in a sports field in Balkh province. The brutal act, ordered by the nation's supreme court, signals a stark and unyielding return to a hardline interpretation of Islamic law.
The executed individuals were convicted for the murder of two others, a crime they reportedly confessed to. The sentences were carried out in the presence of senior Taliban officials and local citizens, underscoring the judiciary's authority under the new regime.
Flogging Sentences Delivered Alongside Executions
In the same grim session, fourteen individuals—nine men and five women—were publicly flogged for a range of so-called moral crimes. Their offences included adultery, theft, and running away from home. This public display of corporal punishment is a clear indication of the Taliban's commitment to enforcing its strict moral code across Afghan society.
International Condemnation and Domestic Silence
The resumption of public executions and floggings has drawn swift and severe condemnation from international human rights organisations and Western governments. Critics condemn these practices as barbaric and a gross violation of human dignity.
Despite the international outcry, the Taliban leadership remains defiant. Officials justify the punishments as a legitimate and necessary aspect of Sharia law, claiming they serve as an effective deterrent against crime. Within Afghanistan, public dissent against these measures is virtually non-existent, as the regime tolerates no opposition.
The events in Balkh are not isolated. They form part of a broader pattern of harsh judicial punishments that have become commonplace since the Taliban reclaimed power in 2021, reversing decades of progress on human rights and personal freedoms.
